Forsythia hybrid plant named `Princeton Gold`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Forsythia variety characterized by the very large size of the flowers which have a rich golden color and with much broader petals than any other Forysthia variety known to me. The flowers are very dense on the twigs so that the shrub is a solid mass of gold when in bloom. It forms a dense, rounded shrub, broader than tall. The flower buds survive cold winter in USDA hardiness zone 5-A when the flower buds of Forsythia intermedia varieties have been killed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to Forsythia and primarily to a Forsythia hybridwhich is a product of crossing an unpatented seed parent Forsythiaintermedia `Spectabilis` with an unpatented pollen parent Forsythiaovata `Tetra Gold `.

I selected the plant of this application from a row of Forsythiaintermedia `Spectabilis` seedlings in a nursery located near PlainesboroTownship, N.J. I asexually reproduced the plant by soft wood cuttings ina cultivated area at the nursery, have observed the plants thusproduced, and find that the characteristics initially observed are infact reproduced in successive generations.

Forsythias are popular plants due to their bright and colorful yellowflowers which appear in the spring prior to the leaves. They are fastgrowing opposite-leaved shrubs easily propagated by hard or soft woodcuttings. Forsythia intermedia originated as a hybrid species in Europe(F. suspensa×F. viridissima). It is characterized by being sturdy andupright with sloghtly arching branches. The seed parent, Fosythiaintermedia `Spectabilis` is one of the most popular Forsythias havingflowers produced in large quantities and clusters while retaining theupright and sturdy character of F. intermedia. The flowers are large andhave a dark vivid yellow color. F. ovata is characterized by havingsmall, erratically produced flowers. The flowers, though, are hardierthan other Forsythias. Becasue of its hardiness F. ovata varieties, like`Tetra Gold`, are planted in colder areas where the flower buds canwithstand the winter cold.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The plant of this invention is characterized by having traits of eachparent. It is remarkable for the very large size of the flowers of arich golden color, and unusually broad petals for a Forsythia plant. Theflowers are very dense on the twigs so that the shrub is a solid mass ofgold when in bloom. It forms a dense, rounded shrub, broader than tall.The flower buds survive cold winter in USDA hardiness zone 5 when theflower buds of Forsythia intermedia varieties have been killed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new variety of Forsythia is illustrated by accompanyingphotographic drawings and depicts the plant by the best possible colorrepresentation using color photography.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the entire shrub.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a close-up of the flowers and twigs.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The details which formed the basis for this description were observed ata nursery in Plainsboro Twp. N.J. in 1987. All color references beloware measured against the Munsell Color Chart. Colors are approximate ascolor depends on horticultural practices such as light level andfertilization rate, among others.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Forsythia intermedia `Spectabilis`.

Pollen plant.--Forsythia ovata `Tetra Gold`.

Tree: Shrub.

Overall appearance.--Spreading; dense and hardy.

Size.--Large, 2 meters high by 3 meters wide.

Trunk: Stocky.

Color.--Moderate yellowish brown, 10YR 4/4.

Branches: Abundant; stocky and smooth.

Angle.--35°-45°.

Color.--Moderate yellowish brown, 10 YR 4/4.

Lenticels.--Moderately abundant. Number -- 3 per cm of twig length.

Color.--Dark Orange Yellow 10 YR 6/8.

Leaves:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Arrangement.--Opposite, borne in pairs.

Length.--8 cm.

Width.--3 cm.

Shape.--Oblong, lanceolate.

Color.--Upper surface, dark yellowish green, 10 GY 4/5. Lower surface,moderate yellow green 5 GY 5/6.

Margin.--Serrate on terminal 1/3 of the leaf.

Petiole.--Short, 1.5 cm long.

Glands.--None.

Stipules.--None.

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Very hardy, Zone 5-A.

Size.--1 cm long.

Shape.--Narrow, pointed and borne in opposite clusters on the branches.

Color.--Strong yellowish brown 10 YR 5/0.

Flowers: Borne in opposite 2 to 4 flowered clusters.

Dates first bloom--April 1; Full bloom -- April 10.

Quantity.--Very abundant.

Size.--Very large-5 cm in diameter by 2 cm high.

Lastingness on plant.--2 weeks in central New Jersey.

Fragrance.--None observed.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--4.

Shape of petals.--Ovate, with square, slightly toothed tips.

Size of petals.--Very large.

Length.--3 cm.

Width.--1.1 cm.

Color.--Vivid yellow 2.5Y 8/12, base of petals 10 YR 8/10.

Fruits: None observed.

Reproductive organs:

Stamen.--Anthers -- Few and small. Color -- Moderate Orange Yellow10YR8/10. Arrangement-Inserted at the base of the calyx. Filaments:Threads -- Short (0.5 cm. long). Color -- Vivid greenish yellow7.5Y8/12. Pollen: Color -- Moderate orange yellow 7.5 YR8/8. Styles:Slender, with 2-lobed stigma. Length -- Short (0.4 cm. long) and thin.Stigma: 2-lobed. Color -- Brilliant greenish yellow 7.5Y 9/8.

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Disease: No unusual susceptibility to known diseases observed to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Forsythia plant, substantially as hereinshown and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by itsvery large flowers of a rich golden color with broad petals forming adense, rounded shrub, broader than tall, and by its hardy flower budsable to survive cold winter in USDA hardiness zone 5.